2008 Terrorist Attack
On 26 November 2008, in a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the hotel (as well as the Oberoi) was attacked, during which material damage occurred, including the destruction of the hotel's roof in the hours following. Hostages were taken during the attacks, and at least 167 people were killed, including many foreigners. The casualties were mostly Indian citizens, although westerners carrying foreign passports were singled out. Indian commandos killed the gunmen barricaded in the hotel to end the three-day battle. At least 31 died at the Taj. Approximately 450 people were staying in the Taj Mahal Palace and Hotel at the time of the seizure, and another 380 in the Oberoi.
Soon after (30 November), Taj Mahal Hotel chairman Ratan Tata said in an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria that they had received advance warning of the attacks, and that some countermeasures had been taken. These may have been relaxed before the attack, but in any case were easily sidestepped by the terrorist operatives. After the attacks, the hotel management announced that the hotel would be rebuilt; it took around 12 months and 500 crore (US$92 million) to repair it.
The less damaged sections of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel reopened on 21 December 2008. It took several months to rebuild the popular heritage section of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
Hillary Clinton visited Mumbai in July 2009, aiming to deepen Indo-American ties, and stayed at the Taj hotel; she also attended a commemoration event. "I wanted to send a message that I personally and our country is in sympathy and solidarity with the employees and the guests of the Taj who lost their lives ... with the people of Mumbai," Clinton said in an interview with India's Times Now.
On 15 August 2010, India's Independence Day, the Taj Mahal Palace was reopened after restoration. The cost of the restoration of the hotel so far has been 1.75 billion Rupees (estimated $40 Million USD). The palace wing has been restored and offers new hotel services.
On November 6, U.S. President Barack Obama became the first foreign head of state to stay at the Taj Majal Palace after the attacks. In a speech from the terrace of the hotel, Obama said, "the Taj has been the symbol of the strength and the resilience of the Indian people."
Read more about this topic: Taj Mahal Palace & Tower
Famous quotes containing the words terrorist and/or attack:
“The terrorist and the policeman both come from the same basket. Revolution, legality—counter-moves in the same game; forms of idleness at bottom identical.”
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924)
“We attack not only to hurt someone, to defeat him, but perhaps also simply to become conscious of our own strength.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)